Excellent resistance to water washout. Slightly hardens in consistency in the presence of water, especially when subjected to mechanical shear stress, in order to act as a seal against water contamination and to allow the grease to remain in the bearing.

Very good to excellent resistance against rusting, especially in the presence of moisture

Very good to excellent work stability

Very good to excellent mechanical and shear stability. Slightly to moderate hardening in consistency when subjected to high shock loading and severe shear stresses. This hardening in consistency allows the grease to stay put in the bearings.

Very good to excellent mechanical and shear stability. Slightly to moderate hardening in consistency when subjected to high shock loading and severe shear stresses. This hardening in consistency allows the grease to stay put in the bearings.

95% to 100% Reversibility

Excellent pump-ability

Compatible with all types of greases except bentone base greases

Excellent versatility. Can be used in a wide range of application

Non-soap base greases – Bentone base

Low to relatively high thickener content 6-15% by weight

Smooth to buttery texture

No dropping point

Maximum usable temperature of 350° to 700°F (177°C to 371°C) The maximum usable temperature is dependent upon the quality and type of base oil used in the formulation of the grease and its re-lubrication cycle.

Fair to excellent water resistance. The lower the thickener content the better the water resistance.

Good to excellent protection against rusting in the presence of moisture

Good to very good work stability

Good to very good shear and mechanical stability. Depends upon the thickener content

Good to very good low oil separation characteristics

Moderate to very good Reversibility. 50% to 95%

Good to very good oxidation stability

Good to very good pump-ability

Not compatible with any types of soap base greases and polyurea base greases

Non-soap base greases – Polyurea base

Low thickener content 8-10% by weight

Smooth and buttery texture

Dropping point of 460°F-500°F (238°C to 260°C)

Maximum usable operating temperature of 350°F (177°C)

Good mechanical stability. Can soften in consistency and run out if subjected to very high to severe mechanical shear stresses.

Good to very good low oil separation characteristics

Good rust protection, especially in the presence of moisture

Good to excellent resistance to oxidation

Good high temperature stability

Poor to moderate Reversibility. 20% to 60% Reversibility

Good pump-ability

Frequently used in sealed-for-life bearings which are filled during assembly, permanently sealed and operated without re-lubrication for the normal life of the equipment.

High temperature capabilities
Many applications require the use of a grease which is able to withstand high temperatures and still carry on its function of lubrication. When heated, a grease generally becomes softer and flows more readily. At elevated temperatures, oxidation is more rapid, oil separation (“bleeding”) increases and the grease’s base oil will evaporate significantly.

A grease’s high temperature capabilities are dependent upon on not only the type of base oils used in its formulation, but also upon the type of thickener system used.

Schaeffer Mfg’s Aluminum Complex base and Bentone Base Greases, because of the use of 100% pure paraffin oils and/or severely hydrotreated polyalphaolefin base oils and the use of aluminum complex base or bentone base thickener systems in their formulation, have the ability to withstand high temperatures and still carry on its function of lubrication.

The hub is packed with 90 grams of grease using 2 grams for the small bearing and 3 grams for the larger bearing and operated for 6 hours at a test temperature of 235°F.

At the end of 6 hours the apparatus is dismantled while hot, and the hub cap and leakage collector are weighed separately to the nearest 0.1 gram to determine the amount of leakage that occurred. Also, at the end of the test the bearings are washed and examined for any varnish, gum and lacquer-like deposits.

At the end of the test Schaeffer Mfg’s various greases showed no signs of any varnish or lacquer deposits.

Resistance to evaporation at high temperatures
In some applications greases are exposed for extensive periods to elevated temperatures. These elevated temperatures may cause evaporation of the base oils resulting in hardening and caking of the grease.

Test method is used to determine the evaporation loss of lubrication greases for applications where evaporation loss is a factor.

Evaporation loss data can be obtained at any temperature in the range of 210° to 300°F (99° to 145°C)

The grease is weighed to the nearest 1 milligram before placing in the evaporation cell

The grease is placed in the evaporation cell and the cell is placed in a bath at the desired test temperature. Heated air is flowed through the evaporation cell for 22 hours.

At the end of 22 hours the sample is allowed to cool to room temperature and reweighed in order to determine the percent evaporative loss.

Oxidation resistance
Due to high temperatures that can be encountered in many bearing application, the oxidation resistance of a grease plays an important role in its performance.

It has been found that for every 20°F rise in temperature above constant operating temperatures of 200°F to 250°F, the oxidation rate of a grease will be doubled. If the grease being used in these high temperature applications is unable to resist oxidation this can result in premature hardening and caking of the grease, destruction of its base oils and inactivation of its extreme pressure and antiwear properties.

A greases ability to resist oxidation is dependent upon two main factors:

The type of base oils and oxidation inhibition additives used

The type and amount of thickener system used

If a grease is not properly inhibited and uses a low thickener content oxidation will occur.

Schaeffer Mfg’s Aluminum Complex Base and Bentone Base Greases due to the use of 100% pure paraffin base oils and/or severely hydrotreated polyalphaolefin synthetic base stocks, their low thickener contents, and the use of a highly effective oxidation inhibiting additive system possess exceptional resistance to oxidation especially when high temperatures conditions are encountered.

Shear and mechanical stability
In many bearing applications a grease can be subjected to high mechanical shear stresses or high loading conditions. These high mechanical shear stresses or high loading conditions can severely work a grease. Unless the grease exhibits good to excellent shear stability, the grease will either run out of the lubrication area or will separate into its base oils and thickener components, thus allowing the oil component to run out of the bearing and leave the thickener behind to lubricate.

Shear stability is the property that best reflects a grease’s ability to retain its integrity or consistency. It is a means of judging the grease’s ability to “stay put” in the bearing. It is important that when a grease is worked in a bearing, any change in the grease’s consistency must be moderate in order for the grease to stay in the bearing and act as a seal to prevent water, dirt or other contaminants from entering the bearing.

Schaeffer Mfg’s Aluminum Complex Base Greases and Bentone Base Greases due to not only their low thickener contents but also due to their processing through a collodial mill after formulation in order to tighten them exhibit very good to excellent shear stability. This very good to excellent shear stability results in the Schaeffer greases’ ability to moderately harden in consistency when subjected to high mechanical shear stress or high loading conditions. By moderately hardening in consistency, this results in the Schaeffer Greases “staying put” in the bearing.

19% to 82% better shear stability
Roll stability test (ASTMD-1831)

After the worked penetration is determined and recorded a 60 gram sample of grease that has not been worked is placed in the test cylinder and distributed uniformly on the inside wall of the cylinder.

A weighted roll is placed inside the cylinder, the cap tightened and the entire cylinder assembly is mounted onto the test assembly.

The test assembly is started and the weighted rolle revolves along the inside of the cylinder at 106 rpm for a period of 2 hours.

At the end of a two hour rolling period the cylinder assembly is dismantled and the grease being tested is removed so that its worked penetration according to the ASTM D-1403 can be determined.

From the before and after penetration readings the percent change in consistently is calculated.

Resistance to water washout and water spray-off
Many bearing applications in industry, mining, construction, farming, etc. are constantly exposed to copious amounts of water (sometimes water spraying onto the bearing at high pressure). Unless a grease has the ability to resist softening and/or emulsification with water it will wash out of the bearing. Once the grease has been removed from the bearing due to water washout, this results in:

Loss of the grease’s ability to act as a seal against contaminants

Rusting and corrosion of critical moving parts

Enhanced oxidation of the lubricant

Increased wear

Increased grease consumption

Reduced bearing life

Schaeffer Mfg’s Aluminum Complex Base and Bentone Base Greases exhibit very good to excellent resistance to water wash-out and water spray-off. This is due to the ability of the Aluminum Base Greases to moderately harden in consistency when worked in the presence of moisture and the use of an advanced structure modifying additive sytem in the formulation of all the Schaeffer Mfg greases. This very good to excellent resistance to water wash-out and water spray-off results in:

Increased protection against rusting and corrosion of critical moving parts

Resistance to emulsification and absorption of moisture

Increased oxidation inhibition

Increased anti-wear protection

Reduced grease consumption

Increased bearing life

42% to 58% better resistance to water wash-out than conventional lithium and lithium complex base greases
Water wash-out test (ASTMD-1264)

The test method is used to evaluate the resistance of a grease to washout by water from a bearing.

The test method can be run at a temperature of either 100﻿°F or 175﻿°F.

4 grams of the grease being tested is packed into a tarred ball bearing which is inserted in a housing with specified clearances and rotated at 600 +/- 30rpm.

Water at the specified test temperature is impinged on the bearing plate at a rate of 5ml per second for 1 hour. At the end of 1 hour the unit is turned off and the bearing is placed in an oven for 16 hours at 170﻿°F.

At the end of the 16 hour drying period the bearing is cooled and weighed to determine the amount of grease lost through water washout.

42% to 50% better resistance to water washout than conventional Bentone Base greases
Water washout test

17% to 82% better resistance to water spray off than conventional soap base greases
Water spray off test (ASTMD-4049)

The test is used to evaluate the ability of a grease to adhere to a metal surface when subjected to an intense water spray.

In this test a stainless steel panel is coated with a 1/32 inch film of grease and weighed.

The panel is then sprayed with water at a temperature of 100﻿°F and a pressure of 40 pªl for 5 minutes. The spray apparatus is held 1 foot from the steel panel.

At the end of the 5 minute test time the panel is oven dried for 1 hour at 150﻿°F (66﻿°C)

After allowing to cool off to room temperature the steel panel is re-weighed to determine the weight and the percentage of the grease washed away.

61% to 67% better resistance to water spray off than conventional Bentone base greases

Rust and corrosion protection
Rust and corrosion protection is another very important property a grease must possess. Many greases are used in applications that may be exposed to large volumes of fresh and salt water in both a liquid and vapor state. The degree of protection a grease provides is dependent upon its composition, how it reacts in the presence of water, its ability to form and maintain a seal against the entrance of corrosive and other undesirable materials and the presence of a rust inhibiting additive system.

Schaeffer Mfg’s Aluminum Complex Base and Bentone Base Greases contain a highly effective rust and corrosion inhibiting additive system, that is not readily depleted during the life of these greases. These greases also offer excellent rust and corrosion protection as a result of their excellent shear stability and their resistance to water washout and water spray-off.

Extreme pressure and anti-wear protection
One of the primary functions of a grease is to reduce friction and wear in the bearing being lubricated under various operating conditions. Many bearing applications are subjected to high shock loading, continuous low speed/high torque conditions and in some cases severe overload conditions. These conditions often result in boundary lubrication conditions that result in metal to metal contact between the moving parts of the bearing. Once metal to metal contact occurs, excessive wear and eventual premature failure of the bearing will occur.

Because of these aspects it is important that a grease possesses good to very good extreme pressure and anti-wear properties.

Schaeffer Mfg’s Aluminum Complex Base and Bentone Base Greases provide significant anti-wear and extreme pressure protection, not only due to the naturally high film strength contributed by the 100% pure paraffin base oils and polyalphaolefin synthetic base fluids, the use of low thickener content that allows morew base oiland fluid to be available to help dampen shock and distribute the solid lubricants and extreme pressure additive system, but also due to the presence of Molybdenium Disulfide, Synthesized Moly and/or other solid lubricants. Once the Molybdenium Disulfide, Synthesized Moly and/or other solid lubricants are plated to the metal surface of the bearing, they form a long-lasting solid lubricant film that is capable of withstanding pressures in excess of 500,000 psig. This long-lasting solid lubricant film prevents metal to metal contact and damaging frictional wear from pressure. This results in not only reduced wear and a reduction in contact area temperatures, but also in increased bearing life, less downtime and extended lubrication cycles.

Reversibility
When a grease encounters abnormally high temperatures for short periods of time and then returns to normal operating temperatures, or encounters high shock loading conditions, bleeding of the grease’s base oils from the grease can occur. Also, during normal operation of a bearing it is the function of a grease to release its base oils in order to lubricate the bearing. However, when the machine is shut off, or when conditions of high temperature or high shock loading occur, the grease must have the ability to recapture its base oils in order to return to its original consistency and continue to function as intended. In other words, it must exhibit Reversibility.

The Reversibility of a grease is defined as the grease’s ability to recapture its base oils in order to return its original consistency and to continue to function as intended. A grease’s Reversibilty characteristics are dictated by the type of and the amount of thickener used. The higher the thickener content the less the grease’s Reversibility.